The increase in the number of trucks on U.S. highways, along with the decrease in road inspections, has raised serious concerns about road safety. In recent years, analyses have shown that over 2000 people have lost their lives in accidents involving federally licensed transportation companies since 2019. These accidents occur while many of these companies have never been inspected.
Details of Fatal Accidents
A fatal accident last December on the New Jersey Turnpike claimed the lives of three members of a family. They were returning from a family gathering when a truck belonging to Next Level Express Inc. collided with their SUV. According to records, none of the trucks or drivers from this company had been subjected to road inspections in the past decade.
Read more: Gitanas Nauseda: The downed drone in Lithuania is likely Russian
Analyses indicate that since 2024, 621 people have lost their lives in 543 fatal accidents. This statistic highlights the problems within the road inspection system and underscores the need for attention to road safety.
Decrease in Inspections and Its Consequences
According to collected data, road inspections conducted by federal and state officials are the government's main tool for identifying dangerous trucks before accidents occur. However, despite the increased mileage driven by trucks, inspections have decreased, with the number of inspections per mile driven dropping by about 20 percent since 2016.
Analyses also indicate the existence of thousands of companies that have never been inspected, either before or after accidents, while having operational licenses across the country. This situation could lead to more accidents and raises questions about the effectiveness of the existing regulatory system.
The need to revise the inspection system and implement more effective measures to ensure road safety requires greater attention. Given the statistics, it seems these issues should be prioritized in transportation policy-making.
Read more: U.S. Senate Commerce Committee passes bill to prevent pressure on media · Disaster again: Passenger dies in train and truck accident in Poland
